Late afternoon saw the run-through of Hastenbeck. The set-up for this version starts with the French columns under Armentieres and Chevert already approaching the slopes of the Obensburg on the Hanoverian left. Under my self-imposed rule, the Army of Observation wasn't allowed to move until the French were at the top. Meanwhile the French batteries on their right engaged the easternmost Hanoverian redoubt.
Side note: I didn't represent the skirmishing of the piquets in the Obensberg. These were 'factored out'.
The signal for the rest of the French to get underway was the seizing of the Obensberg and the suppression of the Hanoverian redoubt on their left. Also the Hessian and Hanoverian combined grenadier battalions (2 brigades worth) were ordered to counter attack the French on the hill to their left rear, and Breidenbach's brigade also set off on its march from between Afferde and Diedersen.
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| The Hessian and Hanoverian grenadiers (left) advance to attack the French columns climbing the wooded sloepes of the Obensberg. The redoubt (bottom left) has been abandoned by the Hanoverian artillery. |
The grenadiers routed one brigade of French and inflicted heavy losses on others. Amongst the losses endured by the 'French' were the only Austrian units present. Breidenbach's brigade arrived to stop the French outflanking the grenadiers. This was becoming like the pass at Thermopylae, with masses of French attacking the elite grenadiers, with no room for numbers to be brought to bear.
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| General view from the west. Just east of the stream the French centre left advances on Hastenbeck, whilst further east more columns advance from the French centre right [fill in your own Emmanuel Macron punchline]. |
Unfortunately, the troops flanking the grenadiers routed under renewed French pressure, and the proud flank companies began to feel the whole weight of the French right wing. By then they were also under attack from the south, where French and Swiss brigades mounted the slopes. The grenadiers were helped by the arrival of another allied brigade.
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| The Hanoverian line has pivoted to face south and opposing infantry is in combat from west to east. Losses are mounting on both sides. This became a slogging match. Would French numbers count in the end? |
The pressure however was too much. The Hessian grenadiers had had enough and left their Hanoverian neighbours to their own devices. Bent at 90 degrees, the remaining grenadiers clung on. Under normal circumstances, they would have been rotated out by the second line before they broke (something the French with their greater numbers were able to do more). So they had no choice but to continue the fight. With Breidenbach gone, their left was also exposed. Cheviot's column inched slowly through the forested slopes in their effort to flank them.
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| After routing two French brigades, the Hessian grenadiers have broken, leaving the Hanoverian grenadiers to face attacks from 2 directions. They were to hold out manfully. |
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| The main Hanoverian battery has been cleared (just on the right of the picture) by a brigade French infantry at bayonet point. Two more brigades assault the Hanoverians in the sunken road. Both French brigades have already suffered 2 hits - 1 more and they would rout. |
At great cost, Contades in the French centre right was able to take the main Hanoverian battery. The Brigade Vaubécourt suffered from a hail of canister, but they were replaced in the assault by the Lyonnais. The brave Lyonnais were however chased back by a Hanoverian countercharge. With a deafening cry of 'Vive le roi!" they mounted the breastwork and put the startled German gunners to flight. Orleans and Mailly simultaneously attacked the sunken road. The cover provided enabled the Hanoverians to resist with little loss (in fact no 'hits' were suffered by these brigades) but both French units were taken within an Ace of routing.
To the west of this action Broglie ordered his men to take Hastenbeck with the bayonet rather than get bogged down in a musket duel. Unfortunately the Hessians stood firm and the attack was repulsed. Whilst re-organising themselves the French were hit with a storm of lead. Further west, outside the village a deadly toe-to-toe struggle developed. Losses here were fairly even. Who would break first?
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| French attempts to take Hastenbeck with cold steel failed and west of the village close combat saw losses mount up on both sides. |
Finally, assaulted by French from the east, and Swiss from the south, the Hanoverian grenadiers decided they had business elsewhere. It was too much for flesh and blood to bear. Seeing the grenadiers (now the extreme left of the line) run, the units to their right began to fold. The threat to their flank was too great. Cumberland could not stop their rearward march once it began.
In game terms this took the Hanoverian left wing down to 50% and a Wing Morale Test, which they failed. As I'd only allowed Cumberland's army two wings, this meant that 50% of the army was gone and there was an Army Morale test to take. Fortunately, the King's son was able to maintain order. He still had an untouched cavalry arm and Hastnebeck held. The test was passed. One more turn however was all it took for the right wing to fold. In truth with the left exposed and the high ground lost, Cumberland's position was untenable. Victoire!
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| The position in the east after the Hanoverian left wing has collapsed. |
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| The position around Hastenbeck at the end. French infantry west of the village have finally seen off their immediate opposite numbers, but they have made no impression on the village itself. The collapse of the Hanoverian left have seen the two battered French brigades gain the sunken road, but they are about to be taken in the flank. Meanwhile French big guns have approached the village from the east to help with the attack. |
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| The Butcher's Bill at the time Cumberland lost his Army Morale test. French losses at the bottom: 2, 2 and 3 brigades from Left, Centre and Right wings. The Hanoverians lost 2 brigades from their right and all of their left wing |
OK, so a historical result. In game terms this took 15 turns. In actual time around 2 hours of play. Could this game have been won by the Hanoverians? It always looked a tall order, with the French attack on the extreme left well under way. Maybe if I allowed the Hanoverians to react earlier the odds would be better, but I feel that would be to benefit from hindsight to such a degree I question whether it would still be the Battle of Hastenbeck. In the real battle, Breidenbach did rather better, appearing on the French flank, whereas in the game the French were in a better position to face him. I maybe allowed the French a little hindsight there. So perhaps a tweak here is necessary. That would help a little. It might bring the French right closer to their 50% level before the Hanoverian left reached its break level.
Another option is to split the Hanoverians in to 3 commands, as I did for the French. This would mean with the loss of one wing there wouldn't be an immediate Army Morale test. In truth, I think the way I did it with just two commands, prevented the game dragging on longer than in reality it would have with the left turned.
The figures, buildings, woods and streams were put away as there was a 'gathering' of 17 year olds in the evening in the cabin. They're good kids but they do get a bit giddy, so I didn't want to risk any accidents. The 'hills' and 'roads' are still in position though (the hardest part of the set-up) just in case I feel the need to re-play it.
